I think every birth story is fascinating, truly. After I delivered my son, I never felt so sure of my body and myself (well, before the hormones took over) because it truly is a miracle the human body can do that. I have to admit, however, the scenario surrounding my birth was delightfully “boring.” A woman and new mom in Missouri cannot claim the same. On December 3, 2025, an unnamed woman delivered a baby while visiting the Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife Aquarium Adventure in Springfield.
The Springfield News-Leader reported that the woman went into labor around 3:30 p.m., and both the Springfield Fire Department and the Mercy EMTs were alerted to the situation. The baby, however, decided to arrive before they could.
The woman’s companion spoke with senior emergency medical dispatcher Eli Snider for seven minutes, who guided them through the entire process.
“It can help really reassure the caller and the patient that there is someone there and they are listening and they’re there to help them,” Snider explained to the newspaper. “Because I think sometimes when people call 911, they think, you know, ‘they just send the ambulance and don’t do anything else.’ But we’re always there to help with any kind of situation like that.”
Luckily, the companion did well conveying the situation and handling it. “These parties were calm and very helpful. They were willing to do what you asked them to do,” Snide added to the outlet. “You can’t always get people to listen, but the key is just a calm approach. You’ve got to be the calmest one on the phone.”
Snider confirmed to Fox 2 that this marked one of the first births he’s handled over the phone.
“I’ll go down a pregnancy card and ask questions like, ‘Is this your first pregnancy? Do you have any complications? Can you see any part of the baby now?’ ” Snider told Fox 2. “The caller on the other end of the line, they’re your eyes. They’re your ears and your hands. You just guide them on what you need done.”
Although the baby was already successfully delivered, emergency services assisted with making sure the infant’s airways were clear, cut and clamped down on the umbilical cord, and wrapped the baby in a towel.
“I’m going to remember how joyful it was to help bring life into the world, because we work with so many injured and ill people who call for help,” Snider told Today. “It’s great to hear about someone giving birth instead of someone being in absolute pain and misery from a motor vehicle accident. That’s what I’m taking away from the story.”
